Dairy recording apparatus.



W. D. n W. C. PRICKETT.

DAIRY RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 24, 1913.A

Patented May 26, 1914.

LMS K W. D. & W. C. PRICKETT.

DAIRY RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED P21314, 1913.

1,097,767. Patented May 26, 191.4.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

RECORD FOR WEEK BE NON.

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SAT.

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' W. D. & W. C. PRICKETT.

DAIRY RECORDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 24, 19134.

1,097,767. Patented May 26,1914;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i l 52 l UNITED STATES y'PATENT oEEroE.

WILLIAM D. PRICKETT, OF ASHVILLE, AND WILLIAM C. PRICKETT, OF BIRMINGHAM,

ALABAMA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES PRICKETT, OF ATTALLA, ALA- RAMA.

DAIRY RECORDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

vAppunti@ filed February 24, 1913. seria1N0.'75o,4o5.

To all wzomit may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM D.

PRroKETT and WILLIAMC.PR1oKErr, citi-- zens of 'the United States of America, resi'ding at Ashville and Birmingham, respec# tively, in the counties of St. Clair and Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsl in- Dairy Recording A paratus, of which the following is a speci cation. y

The object of our invention is to provide a machine for use in dairies which will record the time of milking each cow, the amount of milk given by each cow .at each milking and is adapted also to identify the milker," thus enabling the dairyman to keep fully informed by reference to a record strip as to the efficiency of'his hired help and the quantity of millproduced.

Our invention comlises an apparatus in which a clock and scale are combined and adapted to adj-ust printing dials or like devices which will printthe weight and t-he time of weighing upon a record sheet providedwith vsuitable means to ydesignate each particular cow so that the milk from each cow will be printed in a given column. y

A further object of our invention is to provide a record sheet with subdivisions which is subdivided len thwise into columns for designating di erent periods of time and is .transversely subdivided into columns for designating the different cows..

A further object of our invention is to simplify the-means for printin both the time and quant-ity so as to ma e the apparatus compact vand comparatively inexpensive. Y

A furtherl object is'to provide a novel means for bringing the several time and, weight recording 'dials'or devices into true alinement prior'to the recording operation.-

and half vertical sectional elevation taken on line A-'A in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a develop- .ment on type wheel faces shown in reverse of the ribbon shifting device and printing keys, the carriage, printing lever, type wheels, gears, etc., having been removed, and the t-op of the case broken away. Fig. 5-is a partial elevation on the printing lever side of the machine With'part of the' case broken away to show the type-alining Wheels and levers. The ribbon-holder, etc., are omitted. Fig. G is a cross-section taken on line G--C to show details of the carriage st op. Fig. 7 is a view oft-he record sheet. Fig. 8 is a cross-section t-aken on line B-B .(F'lg. l) to top of case thence downward through center line of gears. Fig. 9 is a partial plan of the machine with the case cover and vall apparatus fastened thereto removed, also omitting the ribbon-shifting mechanism. The object of this view is to show the relative position of the evener wheels and levers. Fig. l0 is an elevation of the printing keys.

Similar reference numerals refer -to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the foregoing drawings we haveillustrated what we regard as the preferred mechanism for carrying our invention into effect but without specicall'y'intending to limit ourselves to the details hereinafter particularly described.

The machine illustrated, comprises a scale hook l suspended from a coiled scale spring 2 which is disposed within a casing 80 and Supported by an adjustable hanger 8l from the top cover 82 of the machine. The hook 1 is attached to an anglebracket which is suitably connected to they spring and has a vertical extension forming a rack 3, the teeth of which are disposed so as to mesh with the gear l of'a train .of gears 4, 5 and 6 which are designed to revolve the printing type wheel 7 one complete revolution for every ten pounds of weight. These several gears are mounted on arbors which are journaled in partitions 83, 84 and 85, suitably fastened within the casing. We have sey to the type Wheel 7 through Aeating the quarters of ten lected recording dials in the form of type wheels, but other forms of recording devices may be substituted. The type Wheel 7 has arranged on its face forty type numbers running from (l to 9i?, stepping up by quarters so that any fractional Weight in quarters of pounds under ten pounds can be set up thereon and printed therefrom. However We do not Wish to confine ourselves to any particular fractional division as displayed on the Wheel dial 7. Geared gears 8, 9, 12 and 13 (see Fig. 9), is a second type wheel 14 which is disposed on the inner side of the dial 7 and is fixed on a sleeve 86 which turns on the shaft 24. This shaft is mounted in the partitions 83 and 85 and serves as an axis for the several printing dials and portions of their gear drivingl means. As seen in Fig. 3 the circumference of the dial 14 is divided into quarters, the first being left bla-nk; the second containing the type numeral 1 repeated ten times; the third and fourth containing the type numerals 2 and 3 respectively repeated ten times. This, in effect gives the dial 14 forty operating positions, thirty of which are printing positions, and its gear drive gives it a speed of one-fourth that of the dial 7 with its forty printing positions for indi- Whole numbers. The third dial 19 is mounted on the shaft 24' adjacent to the dial 14 and carries type numerals to print minut-es in multiples of iive. The type numerals progress in five minute intervals from 0 to 55 in a series and the series is repeated three times around the circumference of the dial 19, thus providing thirty-six printing positions and it 1s so geared to the minute shaft 15b of the clock 15 through the chain of gears V17, 16 and 15. that it will complete a revolution once in three hours. Adjacent to the dial 19 is a fourth dial 23 Which carries type numbers for printing hours and is by the gear Wheels 15, 16, 20 and 21 and adapted to revolve once in twelve hours. 1t Will be noted that the type for printing each hour is repeated in succession three times on the dial 23 Which therefore has thirty-six printing positions like the dial 19. Both dials 7 and 23 are preferably formed as intel gral parts of sleeves 87 and 88, respectively. The gears 6 and 8 are ixedon the sleeve 87,

land gear 21 is loosely mounted on sleeve 88.

1t being impossibleL to supply printing characters on the several type dials for every fraction of time or Weight which adjusts the dials to positions intermediate their respective printing positions, the several dials Will rarely ever present a set of characters exactly in line for printing. In order to bring the characters nearest in position on the'several dials into vexact alinement, We

geared to the clock use alining Wheels 33, 34,35 and 36, giving each the same number of teeth as there are characters on the type dial with which said toot-hed wheel is connected for movement therewith. The Wheel 34 is fixed on the sleeve 87, the Wheel 35 is fixed on the sleeve 88,'the Wheel 33 is rigid with gear 13, and Wheel 36 is rigid With the sleeve 37 on which gear 17 is mounted. We provide a series of adjusting levers 27, 29, 30 and 32, which have V -shaped ends and which are all mounted upon a rock shaft 26 suitably journaled in the side wall of the casing and in the partitions 83 and 85. An yoperating lever 25is keyed to the rock shaft 26 and is engaged by a spring 25a which normally holds the lever 25 up and the adjusting levers retracted from engagement with the alining Wheels, the levers 27, 29, 30 and 32 being adapted to engage the alining wheels 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively. Then lever 25 is.depressed by the mechanism hereinafter described, the several adjusting levers are rocked into engagement With their respective alining Wheels and the V-shaped points of the levers are brought against and engage the nearest tooth in their respective alining wheels thus rotating the type dials which are connected up with the alining Wheels slightly one Way or the other, and bringing the nearest characters which are set up on the dials into exact alinement and holding them there -until the printing is so done. The teeth of the alining Wheels are madecpointed or pyramid shaped so the Wider sharpened ends of the adjusting levers will not engage and'be stopped by the apex 'of/the tooth which might occur Were the Wheel' teeth wide and theirl edge at an angle to the edge of the lever end.

The levers 29 and 32 are yieldingly connected to the rock shaft 26 through spring keys 28 and 31, the outer ends of ywhich engage the levers and the inner ends of which are keyed fast to the shaft. The other adjusting levers are keyed firmly to the shaft 26 and are setso that the loose levers will first engage and aline the faster moving dials 7 and 19. Since there are different positions for these fast moving dials, for each position of the slow moving dials 14 and 23 it is necessary to fasten the gear Wheels 17, 21 and 9 to their respective hubs or carriers by springvkeys 18, 22 and 10` respectively, instead `of keying the gears firmly to their hubs. y, AThese springs, on the dial side of the train of gears, permit the opening 38 pro'r'ided for them in the topy 82. .This record r'fibon is wound on two spools 51 'which are adjustable lengthwise on square shafts journaled in bearings` 52b attached to the top wall of the casing and each has one end projecting Without the casing and provided with a knob 52 so.that it may be turned to wind the ribbon, as worn, from one roll to the other.' VvThe spools have cylindrical end extensions 51a. The ribbon may be a single color ribbon. or, as shown, it may be divided into live different colors after the fashion of multi-color ribbons now in general use, the color subdivi* sions extending lengthwise of the ribbon strips and being of equal width. yWhere the multi-color ribbon is used we mount the spools 51 therefor between the vertical slottedl ends of a cage 50 which is suspended from said ends 51Ll of the spools. le suitably journal, in bearings 54 within thecasing, a rock shaft 46 having a crank 45 at one end. A spring 47a is wound about'the shaft and its free end presses'against the rear wall of the casing acting to hold the shaft with its crank 45 raisedand two crank arms 48, which are fixed thereon drawn back so that they will, b v means of links 49 which pivotally connect them with the cages `50, shift the latter ribbon with them to its extreme position to the rear where Vit will print from the green strip. XVe mount on the top 82 of the casing above the crank- 45 a pair of angle brackets 39 in which is mounted an axis that pivotally supports the several printing keys 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44, each lof which, exceptA 44,` have depending, right-'angled ends 40, 41, 42", 43,` respectively, which project into lthe', casing'Y through a hole in its top, as seen' in Fig. 10.

It will be noted that the lower endsv of the' several keys are beveled at different angles and are disposed so as to engage the crank 45, the end 4()a actingto rockthe shaft 46 through aminimum angle, which angle its successively increased as each of the succeeding ends is depressed. The difference in the angular rotation of the shaft being designed to successively present a different colored section of the ribbon for each key, which color will correspond to the color printed on the finger plate of the key. A lever 55 is pivoted beside the several keys and has a projection 55J1 which extends under the several printing keys and is adapted toengage the upper end of the arm 25 which actuates the alining mechanism which arm projects above the top 82 through an opening 61. The depression of any key will therefore actuate the' alining mechanism at the same time that, where required, it adjusts the ribbon.

The printing is effected by a printing lever 57 having at one end a platen 57b which will strike the type dials when the lever is operated and imprint the data set up on the dials on thevunderface of a record sheet 65. The printing lever swings on a round bearing stud 58a formed integral with a plate 58 which is keyed on the square shaft 70 and is provided with top and bottom spaced lugs 63 and 64 respectively, which lugs receive between them a pair of coiled springs 59 and 60. 'These springs are suitably fastened to the lugs by screw clips or other suitable fastening means and are adapted toreceive between them and press against an extension 57@ of the printing lever 57. These springs hold the lever normally in the position shown in Fig. 8. A catch 56 is pivoted to the side of the lever 55 and has a vertical arm provided with a detent and having its top beveled so that the extension 57a of the printing lever will slide downwardly past and be caught under the detent. The latch also has a horizontal branch 56L which has near itsend-a projection 56b which extends downwardly below the level of the bottom of the keys. A coiled spring 62 is connected t-o the top 82 of the casing and engages the extreme end of 56, acting to draw the latter down wardly and hold the catch 56 in the position shown in Fig. y5. lVhen any one ofthe print ing keys is depressed, the lever 55 is brought down with it, which pulls the catch 56 down untilits end 56b comes in contact with the casing and rocks it so that its detent will releasel extension 57u of the printing lever. This movement will have drawn 57a down with the latch and compressed the lower spring 60. As soon as the printing lever is released by `the catch. the'spring 60 acts on the extension 57a tending to return it to its normal position, and in doing sothe momentum imparted to the printing key 57 will cause its platen 57b to strike the type dials, compressing the record 65 and ribbon 53 between the type dials and the platen.

v The record 65 is wound upon a pair of spools 66 which are mounted on shafts 89 which are journaled in a carriage 67. The forward ends of the shafts project forward of the carriage and receive knurled knobs 68 for use in rotating the spools. These knobs are also given small handles 68a. The front side bar of the carriage at its lower bottom edge carries an integral pointer 91 which is adapted for use with reference to a series of different numbers which are printed upon the exposed or rear face of the record sheet 65. This carriage has fastened at one end thereof square eyes 71 and 72 which fit slidingly on the shaft 70 that has rounded ends which are journaled in the bearings 7 and 7G mounted on the top 82 of the casing. A spring catch 7 3 is adjustably held to the side of eye 72 by a screw 79, the upper end of the catch being engaged beneath by a coiled spring 78 which is seated on the slide 72, and the lower end vof the catch being provided with a pointed upwardly projecting stud 80a which is adapted to enter one of a series of spaced slots 80b which are formed in the underface of the shaft 70. When the top of the catch is depressed, it slides downwardly on the pin 79 and draws the pin 80a out of engagement with the shaft. The carriage 67 can then be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft 70. The carriage on its forward end rests upon a raised slide-way 69 mounted on the top of the casing and'is held in engagement therewith by a latch 7 4 which is pivoted to the free end of the carriage. The detent of the latch engages under the way G9 and its lower end is adapted to serve as a pointer with reference to a scale 77 over which it moves, which scale is attached t0 the cover and is marked to indicate the milk ing period for which the carriage is set. The scale is shown covering a period of seven days and indicating the morning and evening period of milking for each day. In other words, the scale presents fourteen subdivisions and there will accordingly be fourteen holes 80b in the shaft 70 so that the carriage and the record sheet thereon may be set to receivethe appropriate data for each milking period of each day which it is marked to keep a record of.` It will be noted that the printing arm 57 is struck on a curve so that it passes over the adjacent roll 66. It will also be noted that the lever is pivoted a sufficient distance above the top 82 to permit its extension 57u to swing past a vertical position as the shaft 70 is rocked. By this means the carriage can be swung, on the shaft 70 as a pivot, to an upright position for the purpose of inspecting the record.

The record sheet is provided on one face with a, series of transverse and longitudinal columns, the several longitudinal columns being headed by the number of days to be covered by the record, as for instance, the seven days lof the week. The vertical columns are each headed by a different number, symbol, or name to designate-the different cows. We prefer .to use numbers for this purpose and to arrange them successively from left to right. The numbers heretofore referred to as displayed on the back of the sheet, correspond with the headings of the vertical columns and are placed on the back of the sheet opposite the similarly designated column on the front of the sheet. By placing the cow indicating numbers on the back of the sheet 65, so that they are visible when the sheet is mounted on the rolls 66 and in printing position, the sheet may be adjusted by reference to the pointer 91 and the vertical column for any given cow quickly brought into printing position over the dials, for the pointer 91 is in alinement with the top of the dials. There are seven rectangular spaces in each vertical column and the length of such. column equals the length of the scale 77. Hence each space willreceive two sets of data representing the morning and evening milkings of a cow on a given day; The record sheet however need not necessarily be ruled or marked with time indicating data, but such is preferable.

In operation, after the record sheet 65 is in place and the carriage 67 in position relative to the time scale 77 to record the milking data in the proper longitudinal column, the milker grasps a knob 68 and turns a. spool 66 to shift the record sheet until the vertical or desired cov7 number column is in printing position, which is the time when theappropriate cow number appearing on the back of the sheet, is in position opposite the pointer 91. The printing mechanism is then ready to be operated. Where the multicolor ribbon is used, the milker selects the color key assigned to him and presses it. As a result the following operations take place: The crank shaft 46 is rocked to present that portion of the ribbon corresponding to the color of the key .depressed into printing position above the dial; the rock shaft 26 of the adjusting mechanism is rocked and the several adjusting levers engage the teeth of the adjusting wheels and force them into a position where they will bring the printing dials, to which they are respectlvely connected, into a predetermined printing position with the type set up in print-ing position in proper alinement; the printing mechanism will be released at the conclusion of these adjustments by the engagement of the catch 56 with the top of the casing, thereby releasing the printing lever. The latter is thrown forward by the compressed spring 60 and its platen strikes the dials pressingthe record sheet'against the ribbonv and imprinting the data set up in the proper columns on the ruled face of the record. The carriage is shifted relatively to the scale 77 for each different time of milking orit may be adbut we. regard those shown as preferable.` The use of the'two .dials for Ithe weight dataand two for the time data is preferable in that it condenses the Siae of the machine. The dials should be set together as closely as possible `as their spacing determines the length of the record sheet required for a lgiven 'number of cows.

Other means may be used to distinguish the respective operators, but that shown i'spreferable. 4 j

The features of our present invention which' are specific to the recording mechanism are not claimed in this application and do not form a part thereof, claims to this feature having -been withdrawn 'in view of a divisional requirement.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure b Letters Patent, is j 1. In a mechanism of the character described, a scale, a Weight recording mechanism, a driving connection between the scale and said recording mechanism co-mprising a yielding element, said recording mechanism having definite recording positions, and `means toadjust said recording mechanism into full recording position in advance of taking a record therefrom, substantially as described.

2. 1n an apparatus of the character described, a time driven recorder, a weight driven recorder, time and weight controlled -driving means for said recorders, means to present a record sheet tolsaid recorders t' be marked thereby, and differentiatedmanually operable means to mark the sheet differently for different operators.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a time recording mechanism comprising an adjustable type bearing element, a Weight recording mechanism comprising an adjustable type bearing element, yielding means for actuating said elements, alining mechanism to adjust said type elements and bring the type to be printed from int-.o alinement, and means to take a joint 4record from said elements, substantially as described.

4.' The combination with a scale and its inclosing casing, of adjustable printingV devices mounted in said casing, a clock driven train of gears,a scale driven train of gears, which trains of gears independently actuate different printing devices, .a yielding element in each train of gears, and manually operable mechanismwhich acts positively to adjust said devices from intermediate into full recording positions, said yielding element in each drive means being adapted to absorb said adjustment of the recording devices.

5. The combination with a scale and its housing, of a clock, a series of printing dials mounted side by side in said housing and having definite recording positions, independent drive means from the clock and scale for setting said:dials, and means to simultaneously adjust all dials into recording positions before taking` a record .from them, said means comprising toot-hed elements movable with the said devices, pointed actuators, means to bring the actuators and toothed elements into interlocking engagement, and a yielding means interposed in the actuating mechanism for said devices which permits the latter 4to move responsive to the operation of said adjusting means.

6. The combination with a scale and its housing, of a clock mounted in the housing, printing elements arranged in juxtaposition in the housing and independently driven b y the clock and scale, key controlled means tosimultaneo-usly make a joint record from said devices, adjusting mechanism operable by said key controlled means and compris- -ing a series of pointed actuators and a series of toothed elements, which latter are rigid with their respective printing elements, said actuators eachbeing arranged to engage and passbetween adjacent teeth on an element before the taking of a record, and a yielding drive which permits said adjusting of said printing devices to bring them into proper recording position.

In an apparatus ,of the character described, a scale, a clock, a'series of concentric printing dials mounted side by side and independently driven by said scale and clock, key controlled means to print a record from said dials, adjusting mechanism operable with said key controlled means and comprising a series of pointed actuators and a series of toothed elements which are movable with said printing dials and each of which said actuators engages and enters between adjacent teeth on an element before the taking of a rcord, and yielding drive means for adjusting said dials, substantially as described.

8. In a dairy recording apparatus, a scale, a clock, adjustable record making devices driven by said clock and scale and juxtaposed to make a joint record, a carriage for a record sheet, means to simultaneously, print arecord on said sheet from said record making devices, a time scale, means to adjust the record carriage into different operating positions relatively to said scale, and means to adjust therecord to diiferent positions in its carriage` substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character de- In testimony whereof we aix our signascribed, a clock, a scale, a series of diierentures in presence of two witnesses. tially operable record making devices driven l WILLIAM D. PRICKETT. by said clock and scale, toothed elements mov- WILLIAM C. PRICKE'IT.

5 able with said devices and pointed alinng vactuators adapted to: lengage and be vforced W ltsss tgl; D Puckett' between the teeth of'said toothed elements,

the outer ends of the 'teeth and the pointed IRENE EMBRY' ends of the actuators being sharpened and Witnesses to W. C. Prickett: 10 one'of lslch pointed engaging parts being NOMIE WELSH,

brolget to an apex, substantially as del RoBT. D. JOHNSTON, Jr. 

